Mayoral candidate, son shot in Samar

NORTHERN SAMAR, Philippines (UPDATED) – Incumbent Mayor Jose Ardales and his 23-year-old son George were shot outside their home in the town of Victoria in Northern Samar. 

According to police, the father and son heard a commotion outside their house which prompted them to step outside. A suspect, identified as “Kennedy,” allegedly shot the victims with a long firearm. They were rushed to the Allen district hospital.

“May malay pa sila nung dinala sila sa hospital na 54 kilometers from Victoria, yung hospital in Catarman. Hindi kasi maganda ang mga gamit dito kaya doon na dinala na pinakamalapit. Pero malayo pa rin,” according to Police Inspector Edwin Cañamaque. (They were conscious when they were rushed to a hospital in Catarman, 54 km away from Victoria. The medical facility here is not good, so they were brought to the nearest hospital, but it was still far.) 

Gun shots were reportedly heard by neighbors of Mayor Ardales at around 8:00 pm, Thursday, May 2.

The incident is still being investigated, according to SOCO. Police are now looking for the assailants. 

The re-electionist Ardales is running under the National Unity Party against Liberal Party candidate Guillermo Jumamil. Victoria has a voter population of about 9,921 and is subdivided into 16 barangays. – Rappler.com